Fan-tailed Cuckoo Research Articles

First recorded evidence of ejection of a cuckoo egg in a fairy-wren species

Brood-parasitic cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, abandoning parental care to their hosts. Many host species have evolved defences to escape or reduce the costs associated with cuckoo parasitism. Superb Fairy-wrens Malurus cyaneus, which are a host to several cuckoo species in Australia, can distinguish cuckoo eggs based on their size or shape, or by using indirect cues such as the timing of egg laying or the presence of an adult cuckoo near the nest. They have previously been shown to reject cuckoo eggs by methods of egg burial or abandonment. These methods are likely to be costlier than ejecting the cuckoo egg from the nest (as seen in some other host species), because of the complete failure of the reproductive attempt, in addition to the costs associated with renesting. In this study, we document with photograph and video footage an incident of a Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis parasitising a nest of a Superb Fairy-wren in the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra. Shortly after the parasitism event occurred, we recorded the female Fairywren returning to the nest and ejecting the single Cuckoo egg. To our knowledge, this footage represents the first evidence of ejection of a cuckoo egg in this species.

A photographic guide for ageing nestlings of two Australian brood-parasitic cuckoo species: Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis and the Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis

Accurate ageing of nestling birds is important for a variety of ecological, evolutionary and ornithological research. However, this can be difficult when nests are found after the eggs have hatched, especially for less-common species such as brood-parasitic cuckoos. Here we present a photographic guide for ageing nestlings of two species of Australian cuckoo: Horsfield’s Bronze-Cuckoo Chalcites basalis and the Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis . Evidence of chick rejection by several hosts of bronze-cuckoos Chalcites spp. and counter-adaptations in cuckoo nestlings has prompted increased research attention in this subject. This guide will help facilitate these efforts as well as research into the ecologies of other unstudied cuckoos.

Egg shape mimicry in parasitic cuckoos.

Parasitic cuckoos lay their eggs in nests of host species. Rejection of cuckoo eggs by hosts has led to the evolution of egg mimicry by cuckoos, whereby their eggs mimic the colour and pattern of their host eggs to avoid egg recognition and rejection. There is also evidence of mimicry in egg size in some cuckoo-host systems, but currently it is unknown whether cuckoos can also mimic the egg shape of their hosts. In this study, we test whether there is evidence of mimicry in egg form (shape and size) in three species of Australian cuckoos: the fan-tailed cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis, which exploits dome nesting hosts, the brush cuckoo Cacomantis variolosus, which exploits both dome and cup nesting hosts, and the pallid cuckoo Cuculus pallidus, which exploits cup nesting hosts. We found evidence of size mimicry and, for the first time, evidence of egg shape mimicry in two Australian cuckoo species (pallid cuckoo and brush cuckoo). Moreover, cuckoo-host egg similarity was higher for hosts with open nests than for hosts with closed nests. This finding fits well with theory, as it has been suggested that hosts with closed nests have more difficulty recognizing parasitic eggs than open nests, have lower rejection rates and thus exert lower selection for mimicry in cuckoos. This is the first evidence of mimicry in egg shape in a cuckoo-host system, suggesting that mimicry at different levels (size, shape, colour pattern) is evolving in concert. We also confirm the existence of egg size mimicry in cuckoo-host systems.

Nest predation of woodland birds in south-east Australia: importance of unexpected predators

ABSTRACTFor most passerines, nest predation has a major impact on breeding success; however, information on the identity of nest predators is scant. In 2012, we investigated the identity of nest predators that each year depredate about 50% of the nests of 21 species in a south-east coastal bird community in New South Wales, Australia. The current study is a 2-year extension of this study and shows that at this study site (a) predation accounts for at least 90% of nest failures, (b) identified nest predators comprised two reptiles, nine birds and five mammals, (c) the suite of predators changes each season, (d) the two major predators were the Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus) and the Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis), (e) the impact of the Red Fox and Feral Cat was minimal, and (f) there was a variable and complex interaction between the parasitic cuckoos and their hosts. The data show definitively the overwhelming importance of nest predation on fledgling production, and bring to light new and important data on several aspects of the suite of nest predators.

Parasitism strategies of the Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis

The Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis inhabits thick forest, and nothing is known about how it finds the nests of its hosts, or whether it monitors the nests that it does find. We studied this cuckoo, and its hosts, for 8 breeding seasons between 2007 (August 2007–January 2008 inclusive) and 2014 (August 2014–January 2015 inclusive) on a 10-ha site in a coastal forest of south-eastern Australia, near Moruya, New South Wales. For three of these seasons, nests were monitored with cameras. The Cuckoo was recorded at the nests of only its four putative hosts at the site (White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis , Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla , Superb Fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus and Variegated Fairy-wren M. lamberti ). It parasitised only the nests of the White-browed Scrubwren and Brown Thornbill, but it removed either eggs or young from all other nests at which it was recorded. There was no correlation between any measure of nest activity for a host species, and parasitism of that species, and cameras at nests recorded no evidence of nest monitoring by the Cuckoo. We conclude that individual Cuckoos may be hostspecific, and that the parasitism strategy is enigmatic, but is possibly haphazard and inefficient. As a result, the Fantailed Cuckoo finds most host nests too late for successful parasitism, it spoils them to re-instigate building, and is by default a major nest-predator.

Les oiseaux de l’archipel des Loyauté (Nouvelle-Calédonie) : inventaire et éléments d’écologie et de biogéographie

The birds of the Loyalty Islands (New Caledonia) : census, ecological and biogeographical issues. — The avifauna of the Loyalty Islands comprises 62 species, including 14 breeding or erratic seabirds, 5 migratory birds, 7 herons, ducks and rails, 4 birds of prey, 28 indigenous land breeders (belonging to 33 subspecies) and 2 species introduced from the Grande Terre (main island of New Caledonia). Six species are endemic : 3 on the Grande Terre and in the Loyalty Islands (New Caledonian Friarbird Philemon diemenensis, Green-backed White-eye Zosterops xanthochrous, Striated Starling Aplonis striatus) and 3 only found in the Loyalty Islands (Ouvea Parakeet Eunymphicus uvaeensis, Large Lifou White-eye Zosterops inornatus and Small Lifou White-eye Z. minutus). Eunymphicus is an endemic genus of New Caledonia. Eight subspecies are endemic to both the Grande Terre and the Loyalty Islands and 11 are exclusive of the Loyalty Islands. Of the 24 taxa whose geographical origin could be identified, 58% are identical or similar to those on the Grande Terre, 105 km away, and 42% have affinities with birds in Vanuatu, twice as far away (225 km). The paths of cyclones could explain the specific influence of Vanuatu. The correlation between the islands’land area and the number of species that have successfully settled is very close (r = 0.97) and confirms this biogeographical standard. The land breeding species frequencies vary, with rare localized species limited to some islands (Bluefaced Parrotfinch Erythrura trichroa, Ouvea Parakeet), or possibly extinct (Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus) and others whose frequency varies widely from place to place (Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis, Gerygone Gerygone flavolateralis, Silvereye Zosterops lateralis), while others show high (Red-bellied Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus greyii), average (Melanesian Flycatcher Myiagra caledonica, Sacred Kingfischer Todiramphus sanctus) or low (Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica) frequencies that remain comparable between these islands. The species ecology has been determined with some species associated with wide forests, e. g. the Ouvea Parakeet, while others are typical of the open settings. The threats onto this avifauna are mainly linked to habitat destruction and the impact of introduced species. A specific effort should be made to ensure the protection of populations of that species for which there is the greatest concern, i. e. the Ouvea Parakeet.

Intra- and Interspecific Sequence Variation in a Portion of the Mitochondrial ND6 Gene in Cuckoos

A 474 base pair segment of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 (ND6) mitochondrial gene was sequenced for four cuckoo species (family Cuculidae). To assess the potential of this little-studied gene for intra- and interspecific genetic analyses, we examined sequence variation between (1) individuals from sympatric populations of the Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus canorus) collected in Great Britain, (2) two subspecies of Common Cuckoo (C. c. canorus and C. c. telephonus) collected at the geographical extremes of this species' range, and (3) four representative Cuculids: the Common Cuckoo, the Rusty-breasted Cuckoo (Cacomantis sepulcralis), the Fan-tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis), and Klaas's Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx klaas). Although we found little genetic divergence at the intraspecific level, the substantial amount of interspecific sequence variation indicated that ND6 may be most useful in resolving evolutionary relationships between cuckoo species rather than within species.

Biological inventory for conservation evaluation III. Relationships between birds, vegetation and environmental attributes in southern Australia

Relationships between diurnal, terrestrial birds, vegetation and environmental attributes were investigated in the open Eucalyptus forests of south east Australia. Of the 83 bird species recorded, the probability of occurrence of the Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Superb Fairy-wren, Golden Whistler, Fan-tailed Cuckoo and Shining Bronze-Cuckoo was modelled. The Yellow-faced Honeyeater was the only taxon modelled whose distribution could be best explained using climatic variables. The other four species were related to habitat features at the site level. The models developed for these species were specific to each data set used and are unlikely to be appropriate for other data collected at other times of the year. Statistical modelling was used to investigate the response of bird assemblages to environmental and biological regimes. The models reflect differences in the bird species composition of sites in relation to elevation and soil moisture/nutrient gradients across the region. Birds favouring higher elevations were separated from birds favouring mid and lower elevations. Birds favouring wetter environments were separated from those using drier habitats although these species were also present in the wetter environments. Differences in the distribution of birds related to elevation were explained by the environmental attributes minimum temperature of the coldest month and mean precipitation of the driest quarter which also affect vegetation formations and associations across the study region. Vegetation floristics and topographic position, which can reflect the moisture and nutrient status of sites, were important in characterising the specific habitat requirements of a number of birds. Physical and biological regimes were significantly related to bird species richness. Species richness was found to be greatest in moist forests found at mid and low elevations throughout the year. A stratified field survey was successful in recording the majority of forest birds that can occur in the eucalypt forests of south east Australia but sufficient data for reliably modelling the distribution and habitat quality of birds were obtained for only about 10% of the birds recorded. Even when data from two census periods were aggregated, data were sufficient for only 27% of the total number of birds recorded to develop a habitat model. Suggested modifications to the survey design based on the data and analyses used in this study, are discussed in terms of the intended purpose of the field survey.

Adult Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cuculus pyrrhophanus Feeds FLedgling

Adult Fan-tailed Cuckoo <i>Cuculus pyrrhophanus</i> Feeds FLedgling

Field Notes on the Fan-Tailed Cuckoo

In the field a distinction can usually be made between those Fan-tailed Cuckoos Cuculus pyrrhophanus that are darkly rufous below, perch prominently and call much and others that are paler below and unobtrusive and quiet. Five specimens of the first sort were all males and four of the second all females. Skins show that in general males are rather more dark rufous on the underparts than females. The trilling and whistling calls ofthe species seem to be given only by males. The females apparently produce only a 'chireee' call. These Cuckoos are often found in groups of three or more. While the males perch prominently and persistently trill and whistle, the females tend to skulk in thickets, giving the chireee call from time to time, often in response to the chireee of another bird. It is doubtful whether this is connected with territorial activity. Birds collected in 1977 were coming into breeding condition in late October and early November but in 1978 fresh eggs were found in the middle of October. In any case, the Cuckoos seem to come into breeding condition too late for the first broods of their chief biological hosts, Brown Thornbills Acanthiza pusilla and White-browed Scrubwrens Sericornis frontalis.

Dead Fan-tailed Cuckoo in the Centre of Sydney

Dead Fan-tailed Cuckoo in the Centre of Sydney

A Rare Cuckoo Combination - Rufous Bristle-Bird and Fan-tailed Cuckoo

A Rare Cuckoo Combination - Rufous Bristle-Bird and Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Another New Foster Parent for Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Another New Foster Parent for Fan-tailed Cuckoo

New Foster Parents for Fan-tailed Cuckoo

New Foster Parents for Fan-tailed Cuckoo

Foster-parent of fan-tailed cuckoo

Foster-parent of fan-tailed cuckoo